Local business and government officials gathered with employees at the Dassault Falcon Completion Center at Little Rock National Airport Wednesday afternoon to dedicate its new $14 million, 66,500-SF paint hangar facility.
"A little more than one year ago, Dassault Falcon Jet broke ground for a new paint facility," said Ernie Valachovic, vice president of industrial administration. "This facility is clearly a significant investment in our future, and a glimpse of what is to come in future years."
The new hangar is one segment of Dassault Falcon Jet Corp.’s ongoing $30 million dollar expansion.
In May 2007, the company announced a $20 million project that would add 116,000 SF of production, design and warehouse space to the completion center, and in August 2007, the company said it would double the space for its service center in a $10 million project.
The completion of its latest project brings the complex’s footprint to more than 900,000 SF, according to Pete Christiansen, manager of environmental affairs and airport liaison.
"We’ve finished a number of buildings over the course of the last four years," Christiansen said, including several new production hangars, a warehouse and an engineering unit.
Dassault Falcon President John Rosanvallon said the project is just another way the company is working on "the biggest backlog we have ever had."
Kinco Constructors LLC of Little Rock was the general contractor for the hangar, which includes four bays and incorporates the latest technologies in aircraft paint application, air re-circulation and environmental particulate control. The new hangar, in conjunction with the recently completed facility expansion, constitutes a plan to significantly increase production capabilities.
"This is going to let us reach our goal of 90-plus aircraft constructions a year beginning next year," Valachovic said. "This positions us for the next five to six years from a volume standpoint, as far as painting. We are doubling our painting capacity."
Dassault Falcon employs about 2,500 workers at its completion and service centers at Adams Field. Dassault Falcon is part of Dassault Aviation, based in Paris, France.
"Whether it’s a mayor, commissioner or citizen, this is important to all of us," said Jim Dailey, former Little Rock mayor and airport commissioner.
Airport Commissioner Virgil L. Miller Jr. agreed.
"This is a wonderful day for Little Rock but also for the whole state of Arkansas," he said. "The economic opportunities for this community and for the state I don’t think can be overestimated."
Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola said he is working with state business leaders and economic development officials to make an additional 25 acres north of the complex available for future expansion needs.
Stodola said funds also have become available to build a new road to access the company from Ninth Street.